Chapter Text
Once again, Mitsuri Kanroji, had baked too many sweets.
This was nothing out of the ordinary coming from her, in fact it could be something considered as a habit or hers. Mitsuri would go and set out on a mission to make, what she claimed to be, ‘just a small batch’ or what she would initially describe as something small and simple, like something sweet and sugary, or those western-styled dishes she was so fond of.
But once she was finished up, she somehow found herself with the final result of enough food to feed the entirety of her apartment floor.
Today’s culprit was a favourite of hers, Sakura Mochi, a soft shade of pink like the colour she had bleached the majority of her hair, it harboured a sweet scent often associated with her individual and most of the meals she made.
Staying true to her career as one of the most passionate employees of the local bakery, she had arranged the said sweets in neat and orderly rows that overtook every available plate and container in her brightly fashioned little kitchen.
Mitsuri was placed in the center of the chaos caused by none other than herself. Similarly to most of the times she would make meals at home, she wore her favourite pink apron, which bore a vintage floral pattern that had been sadly stained by previous messes from past meals. There was cooking flour almost everywhere, including both her apartment and herself. Her cheeks were warm from both the oven and her own embarrassment.
“Ah. I did it again…” She murmured to herself softly, clasping her hands together which were now tainted by flour. “But I guess they did turn out quite well! It would be a waste not to share them…”
Her fidgety gaze had now drifted towards the door, beyond it she could make out the sound of chatter coming from a voice she could not recognise. Though the distance between them muffled the voice, Mitsuri could make out the feminine and dainty sounding tone.
Mitsuri had found herself noticing that there had been extra deliveries around the building recently. Often trucks would come by and drop boxes off the apartment right next to hers. She had presumed someone was moving in next door yet never really had the opportunity to meet them. She had not expected their arrival would be now of all times!
It seemed she now had a new neighbour.
This was the perfect opportunity in her eyes, she had the chance to make a new friend!
Mitsuri squealed at the thought of a new acquaintance.
Without giving herself time to stress, Mitsuri had begun to carefully pick out the best looking mochi and arrange them into a bright pink box, adorned in white polka-dots. She fussed over the small details for far longer than what should be necessary as she began to swap pieces in and out of her arrangement until she felt it was just right.
She paused and stared at the box, deciding to add a lace bow on top for presentation, believing it was the perfect final touch.
The pause gave her time to think–
Correction; overthink.
“What if she isn’t fond of sweets? Oh my, what if she thinks it’s weird and over the top!? What if–”
Mitsuri stopped herself from her ramble, pausing the hurried conversation with herself with a shake of her head, as if to contradict her previous statement before plastering a determined smile onto her face.
“No, no! It’s just a greeting, such things are totally normal for neighbours! People do this type of thing all the time.”
With that being said, Mitsuri took a quick second to inhale a deep breath as reassurance before lifting up the box goods, and making her way out of her apartment and onto the next door.
…改行
The apartment belonging to her new neighbour was giving off the type of vibe that opposed Mitsuri’s. Even from the outside she could recognise so. The air had such an excessive level of quietness, almost sterile, Mitsuri was not used to such cold conditions. It was too composed, almost uncomfortably so.
Mitsuri hesitated at the door of the apartment long enough for the doubt she had previously experienced to begin to creep in again. She did her best to push it back before knocking on the door in a quick and rushed manner.
A few painfully awkward seconds passed.
Then finally the door creaked open, somehow making Mitsuri immensely more stressed, which she was not aware this level of stress was even possible until this moment.
As the door fully opened, the entirety of Mitsuri’s head was silenced in an instant. Any form of thoughts she had were now completely dissolved and gone.
The woman standing before her was quite pretty, exceedingly so. Pretty in the way that Mitsuri could not help but exclaim silently in regards to the fact that the world harboured such a breathtaking girl within it.
Her new neighbour could simply be described just by that.
The term breathtaking was enough alone to describe her accurately, judging by the way she managed to take away Mitsuri’s breath in almost an instant.
She was a petite woman, smaller than Mitsuri for sure, though she carried her small frame in such a poised way, giving her a calm appearance yet it was clear by the almost perfect posture she maintained that she never wavered. Her features were soft yet there was an undeniable sharpness behind those wide eyes of hers. She was clearly observing Mitsuri though her striking purple pupils, that gave away no emotion behind them. The colour of her eyes matched the tips of her dark hair which faded into an amethyst tone.
Mitsuri felt as if this woman was akin to a poisonous butterfly. Coming off as something so delicate and pretty, yet she clearly had a deadly undertone.
Her soft, pale lips tugged upwards, though it was the tight sort of smile, looking unnatural on her face.
“Hello,” Her neighbour's voice came out smooth and measured, “Can I help you?”
Her voice was gentle like a melody, though Mitsuri sensed an odd venom behind it, she couldn’t help but freeze at the initial sound of it.
Mitsuri in that moment, had forgotten how to speak.
Her mind went over and over repeating a silent scream at the sight of this new neighbour. Mitsuri couldn’t help it, who could blame her, after all this woman was so pretty. She could not help but be nervous at the sight.
“I– hi, yes! Hello! I mean, uhm–” Mitsuri stumbled all over her words before shutting up. Her head turned a little too quickly as it moved downwards to face the floor in a bow, nearly making her drop the box in her hands. “I’m Mitsuri Kanroji, I live next door to you! I uh– baked too many sweets. Well not too many, but you know, more than I can eat, and I uh, thought maybe you’d like some! As a welcome! Not that you would need a welcoming of course, I mean–”
Gosh. Mitsuri was going to die on that spot out of pure humiliation.
She had now gotten herself to stop rambling, yet she kept her head down to cover the shame now forming on her pink face, holding out the pink patterned box of sweets in the direction of her neighbour.
There was a brief pause of silence, making Mitsuri want to die right there and then, only deepen.
Then finally, her neighbour's smile returned, plastered back onto her pretty face, yet it felt oddly measured.
“Ah. How kind of you.” she remarked in a curious manner. “I’m Shinobu Kocho. Thank you for the gesture.”
Her gaze flicked down now to the box in Mitsuri’s hands. Though surprisingly, the look in hers wasn't filled with something of the norm, rather they were careful.
Mitsuri may have been considered socially awkward in that moment yet that did not mean she was unaware of others and their feelings. In fact she was often perceived by her peers as the opposite. She was able to pick up on the peculiarity of Shinobu’s behaviour almost instantly.
After what seemed like forever, Shinobu finally accepted the box with precise movements, as if she was staying mindful to the small details of each action, such as maintaining the weight of the box perfectly in her small hands.
She opened up the box slightly, just enough to see what the box harboured on the inside.
Her eyes lingered on the sweets for a second too long to be normal.
But Mitsuri was simply grateful for Shinobu’s interest in her food, even if it was slightly odd behaviour. She also sensed a bit of suspicion coming from her new neighbour.
“This batch was made fresh this morning!” She reassured, “They are mochi if you are wondering. Sakura flavour to be precise!”
Shinobu’s response was quiet and brief. “I see.”
She picked out a piece, but to Mitsuri’s confusion, instead of eating it she simply observed it. She appeared to be studying it. Closely.
Through her slender fingers, she turned the piece around ever so slightly. Mitsuri found herself noticing how soft and graceful Shinobu’s hands looked, similar to porcelain and equally as pretty.
Shinbu seemed to be taking in the mochi with careful consideration, noting many things such as the colour, the texture, and the way the leaf wrapped around it, almost in a hugging manner.
Mitsuri blinked in confusion at Shinobu’s intense behaviour.
She began to wonder if she had done something wrong to deserve this suspicion. She started overthinking. Mitsuri was confused if she had messed it up, was it ugly?
Oh no, what if she thinks it's ugly.
Mitsuri had noted almost all of the possible aspects mentally, such as the fact that Shinobu’s expression hadn’t changed much, yet there was something behind it now. Something calculating. Thoughtful. Almost cautious regarding everything.
Shinobu finally broke the silence, her tone was neutral as she asked, “You made these yourself?”
“Yes!” Mitsuri said too quickly and too eagerly, “I made them myself, from scratch! I mean uh obviously you see, well not in that way. I just– yes!”
Another awkward pause had commenced.
Somehow managing to make things even more tense, Shinobu decided to bring the mochi closer to her face, but in not the manner to consume it, rather as if she was attempting to catch a whiff of its scent.
Mitsuri’s heart began to race yet again, but now for completely different reasons.
She wondered why Shinobu was examining it, and why in such an excessive manner? Though Shinobu covered it very well, Mitsuri would be a fool not to recognize that she was clearly suspicious.
But what exactly could it be, that Shinobu was so very suspicious of? Was it Mitsuri herself? Was it the mochi she had made?
Sadly the questions that repeated so often throughout her head were left unanswered, as Shinobu finally snapped back into her senses. Her gaze went back to Mitsuri as her fake smile came back, almost immediately onto her face.
“Thank you.” Shinobu said. And for the first time throughout this conversation, Mitsuri believed Shinobu’s actions of gratitude to be genuine. “I’ll… enjoy these.”
The particular way she had said the final sentence in such a tone, made Mitsuri feel as if Shinobu had not yet decided whether she believed that statement to be true.
Still Mitsuri allowed her expression to turn into a sincere smile.
“I am truly glad! If you ever want more, or something different– oh, or if you aren’t fond of sweet things I can make savory too! I am a professional baker after all! Ooh, we should totally cook together, of course only if you want to. No pressure!”
After her little rant Mitsuri let out an awkward giggle. Already regretting opening her mouth in the first place.
In response, Shinobu tilted her head slightly, as if to now study her.
Finally she spoke.
“You’re quite the bright individual, aren’t you?” Shinobu said it more like a statement than a question.
Mitsuri continued to giggle nervously. “I get that quite a lot actually.”
“I imagine you do Mitsuri Kanroji.”
Though the final statement coming from Shinobu may have come off as condescending, there was no clear judgment in her tone.
Mitsuri thought back on the way she said it, finding herself fond of the way her name sounded on Shinobu’s tongue. She very much liked the way Shinobu’s soft voice pronounced her name with such grace.
It made Mitsuri want to hear it on repeat, again and again.
Yet again, another brief silence settled between the two women. Though this time, the silence was softer.
Mitsuri shifted from her previous position slightly. Realising now was probably the best time to leave.
“Well, I won't keep you! I just wanted to say hello, and um… I’m really happy you moved in.”
Shinobu stared at Mitsuri, taking her in for a final time, her expression had once again become unreadable. Eventually it shifted into a soft smile, directed to Mitsuri. It was undeniably the fond sort of smile.
“As am I.” Shinobu eventually stated.
Mitsuri could have sworn that in that moment, her heart was going to explode.
Her mind was jumbled up as she blurted out, “Ah! Okay, goodbye Kocho-san!”
It was too late when Mitsuri realised the honorifics in which she had referenced Shinobu to, by accident. By then she had already bolted out of her previous position, and speed-walked away to her apartment before she could say anything else embarrassing. Which given her history was inevitable.
Mitsuri rushed inside of her apartment as she slightly pushed the door backward, too focused by her running mind to bother closing it herself. The door creaked slightly as it pushed back, in that moment her thoughts overtook her.
She cupped her now pinked and blushing face with her hands.
Shinobu, and the beauty of her face was all that occupied Mitsuri’s mind as the door behind her eventually closed softly.
…改行
After Mitsuri had run back into her apartment, Shinobu Kocho found herself still standing behind an open door, staring at the place Mitsuri Kanroji had once occupied, with the box of sweets still in hand.
Shinobu was still processing what had just expired only seconds ago.
Her gaze eventually moved, down onto the mochi in her careful hands.
The sweets bore a light shade of pink, aided by green leaves wrapping around it.
Shinobu found herself thinking that the mochi harboured a lot of resemblance to this Mitsuri Kanroji quite a bit, not only with the color palette but the sweet, sugary scent it left behind.
Snapping out her dazed confusion; Shinobu made a swift exit to find closure inside of her apartment. She felt slightly at comfort by closing and locking the door behind her, and then double checking that she had done it right.
She looked down at the box again before selecting another mochi, her hand went up to consume the sweet yet she instinctively paused before taking a bite.
There was a flicker of hesitation that formed in her calculating and cold heart.
It wasn’t fear that made her pause, though most would assume so. Rather it was better defined as a habit, the kind of habit that built up over the years; mostly due to personal experiences she chose not to share. The kind of habit that made her ask questions before trusting.
Ingredients, the act of preparation, and worst of all; intent.
It was all unknown with so many variables. That knowledge deep rooted and drilled into her mind which made her doubt everything and everyone.
Her gaze drifted towards the wall separating her apartment from Mitsuri’s in deep thought.
She could still hear faint movement coming from the next door. Shinobu was unmistakably certain that the energetic yet light noise she could make came from none other than Mitsuri Kanroji.
Mitsuri was a fresh aspect of her life. Though she undeniably an honest person, judging by her jittering actions and genuine embarrassment, Shinobu still found herself being unable to read Mitsuri fully along with her intentions.
Shinobu hated that.
She resented the unknown and even more of what it harboured. Yet she oddly could not find the will within her to resent Mitsuri.
Mitsuri; the individual who came off with her bright and bubbly personality, along with an expression just as bright, making Shinobu doubt its realness. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she could not find a single flaw with the genuineness behind Mitsuri’s demeanour.
Mitsuri; an individual who stood out against the muted and dull world, with her pink and tinge of green colours she wore with confidence. Not only was her clothing bright, but so was her hair. Simularly to Shinobu, her hair was dyed, but it was much brighter and long with pink roots as it faded into an equally light green.
Mitsuri; an individual who fluttered her wide, innocent eyes, with bright and easily readable emotions. She showed what she was feeling through something as simple as a look into her bambi eyes, making her as easy to read as a book. Shinobu found it very much intriguing in comparison to her own masked and filtered gaze.
If Shinobu didn’t know any better she would find it almost charming if not reckless as to how easy it was to read Mitsuri’s intentions.
Mitsuri; an individual, who thought a bit taller than Shinobu still appeared delicate at first glance, with her build that consisted of curves yet still managed to be slender and graceful, almost like the dolls Shinobu’s big sister used to gift her before her passing.
But Shinobu knew better than to believe there was no strength beneath that softness. In the way Mitsuri’s body moved so fluidly around, Shinobu could recognise that she clearly harboured deep knowledge about the arts of fighting.
All of her aspects and temperament combined together was a complete contradiction to Shinobu Kocho.
A crash from the apartment next to Shinobu snapped her out of her thoughts. It was clear by the feminine voice yelping, that Mitsuri had taken quite the tumble.
“...How troublesome.” Shinobu murmured to herself, exhaling softly.
After a moment of thought–provoking consideration, Shinobu finally came to a decision. Taking a small bite of the mochi that had still been in her hands.
As she chewed, Shinobu’s frown began to shift into something that would be considered a genuine smile.
Shinobu found herself believing that Mitsuri Kanroji would be the very thing that finally led to her unraveling. After years of building up the perfect mask, Mitsuri had made it fall, after a singular encounter. And for some odd and unexplainable reason, Shinobu couldn’t bring herself to hate the idea of such.